Improvement in explosive compounds



JOSEPH HAFENEGGER, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEM ENT. lN EXPLOSIV E COMPOUNDS.

Spccification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1R0,355, dated December 20, 1870.

To all whom it may 007M677- I Be it known that I, JosEiIr HAFENEGGER, of the city and countyof San Francisco, State of California, haveinvented an Improved Explosive Compound; and I do hereby declare the following description is sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertaius to make and use my said invention or improvements without further invention or experiment.

-My invention relates to improvements in explosive compounds, and more particularly in such explosive compounds or mixtures as contain chlorate of potash or otherhighly-explosive chemical ingredient which is liable,

'when exposed to the atmosphere or to friction, to produce a premature explosion; and

' it consists in adding to or combining with the mixture or compound which contains this highly-explosive agent certain chemical substances, which will to a certain degree prevent or destroy this natural tendency to ex-v plode spontaneously, so as to render the compound safe to handle, while its practicalexplosive qualities, under certain conditions, are in no degree impaired.

Various combinations have-been originated in which chlorate of potash forms the'chiet' explosive agent; but all of these compounds are more or less dangerous, especially-when phosphorus, with bisulphide of carbon or excess of sulphur, enter into or aroused in conjunction with the compound? To obviate this difficulty and remove the liability to explode spontaneously or prematurely, I add to the explosive compound either one or more of the fatty substances known to chemists, among which may be mentioned butter, tallow, lard, oils of all kinds, turpentine, and glycerine.

Any one of the 'abovementioncd ingredients can be mixed with the explosive compound in varying proportions, according to the nature and quantity of the compound, and

"men occurrence) is avoided. it protect against explosion from slight friceither percussionor the direct application of fire will be required to ignite it; hesides, it solidifies the explosive compound, so that it cannot form a dust, thus rendering it safe to handle and store, more particularly when used -'in cartridges or as a blasting agent.-

By this process the great liability to explode on the compound becoming dry or being confined in large quantities (now a com- Especially docs tion.

I am aware of the patent to Thomas Taylor, dated December 7, 1869, for a mixture of ferrocyanide of potash, chlorate of potash, and paratiine, to prevent a waste of powder and secure a regularity of burning; but this I do not claim.

What I claim as to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Fatty or oil y substances in intermixture with explosive compounds, to prevent spontaneous or premature explosion, substantially as set forth.

In witness that the above-described invention is claimed by me I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

JOSEPH HAFENEGGER. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

J. L. BOONE, CHARLIE known.

my invention, and desire 

